Hooray for Friday!
I am spending all day today and tomorrow helping with set up for the Taste of Ocala event on Saturday night which should be a blast! It’s an event I’ve helped plan every year since we move here and I’m thrilled to see everything come to fruition tomorrow evening. (My stomach is also quite excited!)
While I’m sure the Taste of Ocala will be the highlight of my weekend, here are a few other things that helped make my week a little better…
Things I’m Loving Friday
Ryan and I are officially all caught up with House of Cards. We flew through the first two seasons of the show and are now anxiously awaiting the third season. Talk about one heck of an addicting show! Ryan and I loved watching it together and had fun discussing which characters we actually thought might turn out to be decent people. (Um, none of them?)
Oh! And since we’re talking TV right now, as a follow up to Game of Thrones… I wasn’t a fan. I gave it a few episodes, but it wasn’t my thing.
Some nights before bed I find myself feeling waaay too lazy to wash my face. Many days I don’t wear any face makeup at all since I work at a gym, so I will often use that as an excuse to skip washing my face in favor of using these fabulous cleansing wipes. They are incredibly gentle and wipe away daily build up, including dirt, oil and makeup. The scent of the wipes is also quite soothing which is probably why they claim to be “relaxing” wipes. The lazy girl living inside of me absolutely loves them and I think they’ll be even more useful in the summertime when sweating like crazy is an hourly occurrence in Florida.
- “Shark in the Water” by The Cocktails
Oh this song! I love it! You guys know I adore a cappella music and apparently Pandora has picked up on this as well because this song pops up for me to listen to all the time. Whenever it starts playing, I find myself turning it up and smiling like a total goofball. It’s upbeat and incredibly catchy and the women who belt this song out together can seriously sing!
- Beach Tote
Next weekend three of my best girlfriends are flying to Florida for our own little spring break! I’m really looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Siesta Key and since I’m not traveling as far as my girlfriends, I’m trying to come up with a list of things I can pack in my car for everyone to use to make traveling easier. One thing on my list? Beach bags! I have one beach bag I bought from Target years ago, but it’s on its last leg. As I began searching online, I saw so many adorable options! My favorites are cute totes that can also be used as beach bags: Anthropologie Rancho tote (<— Love the lining, too!), Target colorful striped tote (I also like the ivory option), Banana Republic Riley tote (in khaki) and the super splurge Tory Burch Kerrington striped tote.
Buffalo chicken sandwiches were the highlight of last night’s dinner. This recipe officially needs to come back into our regular meal rotation. I forgot just how simple this crock pot meal is to make and it’s so darn tasty!
- Sadie’s Post Playtime Bliss
Whenever we come back inside from backyard playtime with Sadie, she follows us around with a big goofy smile on her face. (Yes, I think she smiles.) She seems to be on a “playtime high” and Ryan and I always laugh at her adorable dopey grin and wagging tail. Once she finally plopped on our bed after Frisbee playtime last night, I snapped the above picture of her to try to capture her sweet, happy face. I love that little lady so darn much.
This website is fabulous and since many of you expressed interest in volunteering in your communities in the comments section of my morning blog post yesterday, I wanted to make sure it’s on your radar. Simply create a profile and select your interests to find volunteer opportunities that may be a great fit for you in your area. I’ve used this website a few times to find some wonderful volunteer opportunities!
Past Things I’m Loving Friday Posts
Question of the Morning
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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That photo of Sadie is too precious for words! I saw a Visla dog yesterday and it made me think of Sadie as odd as that may sound!
I’m yet to watch House of Cards but I’ve heard great things about it.
Yay! Sadie is honored. 🙂
Thanks for posting Volunteer Match. When I live in S.F. the was an organization called One Brick. You could volunteer by choosing a date and time and not have to commit to one particular non-profit and be on a regular schedule. Hopefully Volunteer Match will have stuff available in Cleveland 😀
Looking forward to Leslie and Ross’s wedding pics!
Happy Friday
I can’t wait for the pics, too! They are all edited, now I’m just waiting for the CD of images in the mail.
I too love House of Cards! But seriously, around the end of the second season, everyone became so bad, I thought to myself “Can I handle this show anymore?!” I cannot believe some of the things those people do. I happen to have a friend that worked on Capitol Hill a while back, and for the record, I don’t think it’s actually that scandalous. Good thing!
I’m really loving sweet n’ salty combos these days. I just had the best sweet n’ salty cupcake ever from a local cupcake shop and then I decided to make it into a brownie. SO GOOD.
Love! Love! Love! Shark in the water! I just played it and I’m in love! Thank you for sharing!
This week I’m in love with Easter candy, specifically snickers Easter eggs. Easter has the best holiday candy options ever!
Isn’t it fabulous!? Such a great song!
Oh those face wipes sounds great!! I hate actually washing my face, but I love the feeling afterward. And omg, that picture of Saide is way too adorable. Its funny, because it really reminds me of the dog I babysit. Ah, thank you!! I’m definitely going to be using Volunteer Match now!!
House of Cards is filmed right where I live in Harford County Maryland. I have friends who work at the local Starbucks, and they frequently fill drink orders for the cast!
So cool! I’d be totally nosy and want to see what they all order. Because that’s important. 😉
Hey Julie! I am the singer in “Shark in the Water” by the Cocktails!!
My friend posted this blog on my FB wall and I just had to comment! Thanks so much for spreading love about our song- we had a ton of fun recording it! Please check out my website with originals if you have time!
http://www.ChelseaCorriveauMusic.com.
Have a great day!
Oh my gosh!!!! Your voice is INCREDIBLE. I have been listening to this song non-stop. 🙂 I’ll definitely check out your music!
House of Cards is such an addicting show! I am trying to pace myself with the second season since we have to wait so long for the third. We will see how long that lasts!
I still need to finish House of Cards season 2! It’s soooo good!
Sadie’s face is adorable! I saw it on instagram and I was in love with her! House Cards is on my pending to watch list!! Many good reviews and recommendations!
Your trip sounds like so much fun! I’m looking forward to throwing my husband’s birthday party! Should be a fun weekend.
Sadie does look like she’s smiling! She’s too cute. That beach bag is adorable. I just got a Lily Pulitzer one for when we were in Mexico last month and I love it.
I’m not sure how you feel about this movie, but have you realized yet that Claire Underwood is Buttercup from “The Princess Bride”?! I realized that during the second season. I’m still not sure I believe it!
My husband is obsessed with House of Cards. It is all I hear about so I might have to check it out :). Loving the beach tote as well, I wish I lived that close to the beach!
I love Siesta Key. No matter how many places I travel, I think Siesta has the prettiest and softest sand.
My favorite beach bag is called a Seabag, which I bought in Maine. It’s made from real sails from sailboats, and it is totally the bag-to-have in the Northeastern coastal areas.
Enjoy Taste of Ocala. Hope you wear a loose dress. 🙂
One thing I’m loving: jumpsuits! I swear they’re the new maxi dress. So easy and comfy. Oh, and wine. Is it even socially acceptable to say I’m loving wine?! Oh well haha
In my office, we’re obsessed with House of Cards. Two of my colleagues started watching, and then my husband and I started watching because they made it sound so good. Now two more coworkers are working their ways through season 2. Kevin Spacey is terrifying.
He is chilling… and yet I kind of like him? So disturbing!!
Yup… like Walter White. Though I really want Frank Underwood to get what’s coming to him. He dodges huge issues way too easily.
Right now I am obsessed with ONce upon a Time tv show–its so good!
Oh man, crock pot meals are the best. So easy, I really need to make them more often! My husband made pulled pork a few weeks ago and we ate it for lunch every day! So good, and so stress free!
Love that beach bag! And Sadie’s face is precious 🙂
Sadie is too cute! I used to have a Golden Retriever called Sadie, she was the sweetest dog ever, such a great pet…it must be in the name! 😛 We now have a chocolate coloured lab called Brandy, he is a crazy goofball!
I’m loving House of Cards, I only started it recently, I’m still on the first season, it’s addictive!! 🙂
Definitely getting my hands on some of those facial wipes! I’m pretty much always too lazy to wash my face at night. When I’m tired, I just want my bed pronto! And now that I’m in AZ, I’ll be right there with ya sweating like crazy.
Love that beach tote!
I”m loving that my high school kids chose to watch “Where the Red Fern Grows” instead of some newer junk movie. Although I”m not a fan of spending my Friday morning in tears!
I absolutely love the sandy beaches of Siesta Key! It’s like powder. 🙂
Next weekend I’m flying down to Bradenton so I’ll be in your neck of the woods!
I’d love looking at that sweet blissful face too!
This week I’m loving our first official road trip of the year. I’ve got cabin fever!!
I just can’t get into House of Cards! Everyone raves about it so I think I may give it a try again. I personally am LOVING Parenthood. I have been Netflix binging on it more than I care to share!!
I cannot wait for season three of house of cards! Such a great show! I was in a predicament watching because I wanted to watch episode after episode but I wanted to make it last! Episode after episode won!
i think face wipes are the single greatest thing added to my vanity. love the say yes to brand, they’re compostable
i’m loving TEA! I went through a coffee kick for the past few weeks but right now i’m enjoying a hot cup of green tea with honey… deeeelish!
Oh My Gosh little Sadie’s face — love her.
Haha I do the same thing when I’m super lazy before bed and don’t want to wash my face. I would always give myself the excuse, “well I use mineral makeup and it’s not as bad for my skin” when I didn’t want to wash my face. Now at least I’ll use the wipes if I don’t want to wash it…baby steps, right??
I am definitely heading over to check out the Volunteer Match site. It sounds like a cool concept and I have been looking for ways to get more involved in my community. Have a great weekend, Julie! 🙂
I really love the Volunteer Match website. That is such a cool concept. One thing I’m loving this week is being able to be with my Mom as she recovers from her heart surgery.
Everyone is obsessed with House of Cards! Maybe this summer I can give it a shot! Your buffalo chicken sandwich looks super tasty right now too. Have a great weekend at Taste of Ocala!
Oh my gosh, that pic of Sadie is too cute! What a sweetie 🙂
Happy Friday!
It took me like the whole first season to finally get into Game of Thrones. Now I love it…but it did take time. Not sure if you want to invest that long to like the show- haha! Craig liked it a lot so we kept watching & I finally started to really enjoy it. Did Ryan like it??
He liked it more than I did but wasn’t into it enough to keep going. I’ve heard such good things about it but just couldn’t get into it!
Sadie warms my heart every time I see her. She is just so happy and I want to cuddle with her! I have to be honest–before I started reading your blog, vizslas would not have been on my list of top favorite dogs, but now that I’ve ‘met’ Sadie, I want a vizsla! Or maybe I just want Sadie. 🙂
Are you sponsored by those wipes?
Nope!
Thank you for introducing me to the Volunteer Match website!
I couldn’t get into Game of Thrones either- it was a little too much for me!
I’m volunteering for the Women’s Final Four here in Nashville this weekend and am really excited about it! Lots of events going on and it’s supposed to be great weather. I’m also re-watching Smash and forgot how much I loved that TV show! Every night this past week all I’ve done is watch the show-now I’m almost finished and have to find another tv series to binge watch!
i have the face wash version of those wipes and love it! might have to snag a pack of those wipes for the lazy nights, too 😉
Hey Julie! Would you be willing to blog about some OTHER blogs you enjoy reading? I absolutely adore your writing and I would love to check out some other blogs similar to yours!
Thanks 🙂
Oh my goodness, Sadie is SO ADORABLE! Love that pic of her! And I love Volunteer Match, too — such a great resource to find opportunities in your area!
Here’s some things I’m loving on this gorgeous Friday: http://daybydaymasterpiece.com/2014/04/04/fabulous-friday-17/
I’m loving the sunshine today!! It has been such a loooong winter in Atlantic Canada – I can’t wait for the snow to be gone and for Spring to officially start! Love the picture of Sadie…I am convinced my cat Norman smiles too, which makes me smile:)
I am completely addicted to House of Cards and will never be able to look at Kevin Spacey the same. He plays that character brilliantly.
Ok so I’m going to be the one to talk about food. I’m loving the new (to me) square kind bars! They remind me of the Quaker granola bars minus most of the junk!
Buffalo Chicken! Now that is something on my list of non vegan things to try! 🙂
Sooo…. you’re such an influenster. I just bought that Lee Stafford hair growth leave-in thingie today at Ulta. In hopes that my hair will grow past my shoulders.
I hope you love it!
I used volunteer match a while back to find some volunteer work locally! It was a great experience!